Calculate total exit weight including body weight, gear, reserve, and ballast to determine optimum canopy size.
Exit weight is the sum of body weight plus all gear including suit, container, harness, AAD, altimeters, reserve, and any ballast. Wing loading is calculated by dividing exit weight by canopy area. Most sport skydivers fly canopies in the 1.0-1.4 lb/sq ft wing loading range. Heavier pilots generally need larger canopies to maintain safe landing speeds.